Social Worker - Wake County Public School System

POSITION TITLE (Oracle title)

SOCIAL WORKER

WORKING TITLE

Social Worker 

SCHOOL/DEPARTMENT

Counseling and Student Services (CaSS)

LOCATION

Crossroads II, Cary, NC

PAY GRADE

Guidance Counselors/Social Worker Salary Scale

FLSA STATUS

Exempt

ELIGIBILITY FOR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT

No

WORK WEEK SCHEDULE

Monday-Friday (occasional evenings and weekends) 

POSITION PURPOSE:

Works to ensure that Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) is implementing a comprehensive program that addresses student attendance, homelessness, barriers to learning, student behavior, and mental health issues. Provides equitable delivery of social work services under the framework of the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:  

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSAs)

• Comprehensive knowledge of school social work and comprehensive school social work programs;

• Comprehensive knowledge of current local, state, national, and global trends in school social work;

• Considerable knowledge of program evaluation to support continuous improvement;

• Considerable knowledge of Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Google Apps;

• Skills in creating and managing effective presentations, including the capability to use relevant technology;

• Effective crisis response skills;

• Effective strategic planning skills and experience supporting system-level improvement;

• Effective time management and organizational skills;

• Strategic problem-solving skills;

• Ability to facilitate effective meetings;

• Ability to support a collaborative working environment;

• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form using a variety of communication techniques and tools to ensure the appropriate flow of information, collaborative efforts, and feedback;

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with school system staff, students, parents, community groups, vendors, external agencies, and the public.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in school social work from a regionally accredited college or university.

CERTIFICATION AND LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

• Hold or be qualified to hold a North Carolina Professional Educator’s License for school social work;

• Must hold and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator’s license according to the State of North Carolina requirements.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university in Social Work;

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW);

• Nationally Certified School Social Work Specialist (C-SSWS) credential;

• Experience that incorporates comprehensive and integrated school social work services;

• Experience providing crisis and suicide prevention and intervention;

• Active in professional school social work associations (NASW and/or NCSSWA).

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Ensures a comprehensive and equitable delivery of school social work services in consideration of system priorities and in a manner consistent with guidelines for professional practice and codes of ethics, adhering to relevant laws, policies, and lines of authority.

School Social Workers:

• Conducts assessment of student needs and parental involvement;

• Promotes regular school attendance;

• Conducts home visits;

• Promotes safe, caring, and drug free schools;

• Empowerment of/advocacy for students;

• Provides culturally competent services;

• Provides appropriate services for homeless students;

• Provides individual counseling;

• Facilitates group counseling;

• Promotes positive self-esteem;

• Teaches anger management and impulse control;

• Social skills training;

• Substance abuse prevention;

• Provide crisis intervention services;

• Participate in the development of behavioral modification plans;

• Provide short/long-term case management services to individual students;

• Provides referrals to community agencies and coordinates services;

• Coordinates services with other disciplines within the school;

• Participates in transition planning for students;

• Coordinates pregnancy prevention programs;

• Coordinates dropout prevention programs.

1. Participates in the district-level crisis team (including on-call crisis coverage and event response), school social leadership team, and school social work professional learning teams.

2. Collaborates with school personnel, other central services departments, parents, and community agencies to provide information and assistance pertaining to student attendance, student behavior, and mental health.

3. Performs other related duties, as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This job operates in a professional office environment and has a noise level of mostly low to moderate. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, scanners, and copiers. The position, at times, must be able to come into direct contact with school system staff, staff members of. Work is considered light physical work, requiring the exertion of up to ten pounds of force.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  10/2023

DISCLAIMER:  The above statements are intended to describe the general purpose and responsibilities assigned to this position.  They are not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required by the employees assigned to this position.  This description may be revised by HR and approved at any time.